SOM: This is music from deep in my veins, so these influences involuntarily escape in the music.

PTV: A lot of dance-oriented acts struggle when it comes to live performance. What's the secret to doing it successfully?

SOM: The secret is that there has to be something interesting to see. In Govinda, we have a belly-dancer, percussionist, and projections. I play live violin while mixing original music, so the visual is definitely there.

PTV: Have you visited the Czech Republic before? What do you know about the music scene here?

SOM: I have been there, but not played yet. I love the clubs and think it's a great scene for electronic music. I'm looking forward to how Prague reacts to what we do.

PTV: I've heard a lot about the alternative rock scene in Austin, Texas, but how's the dance scene over there?

SOM: It's growing slowly. There are a handful of people doing this sort of thing there, but rock and blues still dominate the Austin scene. This is why we are touring in Europe.

PTV: You trained as a classical violinist until you were 20, when you shifted toward the kind of music you play today. What were the reasons for this?

SOM: I love classical music but realized that I would never make it as a soloist. I began exploring my other musical interests and got into engineering and producing. That led me into electronic music.

PTV: Was your classical background an advantage or a disadvantage when you began to make the kind of music you play today?

SOM: Both. I have the technique to express what I feel but sometimes my classical education makes me too calculated in my playing and composition.